Tragedy as English football legend banned for betting scandal dies

- Former England international Peter Swan has died

- The ex-English football star made over 300 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday

- Swan's football career was cut short after he was banned for betting-related crime

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Sheffield Wednesday legend and former England player Peter Swan has been confirmed dead at the age of 84.

The centre-half was pronounced dead on Thursday, January 21 at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital after battling with Alzheimer's disease since the mid-2000s.

Swan made over 300 appearances for the Owls having started his career with the Hillsborough Stadium outfit's youth team in 1952.

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He also featured 19 solid times for the English national team but his career was cut short because of his involvement in a betting scandal.

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Peter with two other teammates Tony Kay and David Layne placed a bet on Wednesday to lose at Ipswich in December 1962.

The Owls lost 2-0 at Portman Road and - after the scandal was uncovered by The People - Swan was banned in April 1964 as he was preparing to play against Tottenham.

He received a four-month jail sentence and did not return to action until 1972 when he re-joined Wednesday.

The Mirror reports that Swan granted the Times an interview in 2006 where he insisted that he doesn't know his offence. He said:

"We lost the game fair and square, but I still don't know what I'd have done if we'd been winning. It would have been easy for me to give away a penalty or even score an own goal. Who knows?"

He broke into the England national team in 1960 and played 19 consecutive games. He was part of the 1962 World Cup squad but didn't play due to illness.

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Swan would play for Bury and Matlock before finishing his playing career and also managed Matlock, Worksop and Buxton following his retirement.

His former club Sheffield Wednesday tweeted:

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of former player Peter Swan. The revered defender played 301 games for Wednesday over two stints and represented England on 19 occasions. Our thoughts are with Peter's family and friends at this difficult time. RIP."

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian football family has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Joe Erico.

The 72-year-old was said to have died earlier this week after complaining of a mild stomach ache on Monday, January 20, according to information from Nigerian football journalist Shina Oludare.

He was part of the technical crew that qualified Nigeria for the 2002 FIFA World Cup alongside Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi but were dismissed shortly after.

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